Programming Microsoft® Visual C#® 2008: The Language

Code Snippets

Developers are connoisseurs of code and tend to collect useful code in a variety of places. While other people collect coins, books, or PEZ dispensers, developers collect code snippets. Why? Developers do not like typing. There is some irony in that, considering how much typing is involved in programming. Still, the principle is unshakable: If you want to improve developers’ productivity, reduce the amount they have to type. Code snippets provide an organized method of managing fragments of code, which then can be reinserted when needed. Developers traditionally cut and paste code to prevent typing the same code over and over. However, this has some limitations, including limited persistence of the Clipboard. Code snippets reduce ...